SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

Friday, December 15, 2006

There is no doubt in my mind that Charlton will be playing in the Championship next year.Replacing Dowie has done absolutely nothing and with a free-scoring Liverpool coming to The Valley I expect another lousy afternoon for the Addicks.It’s shocking to think how poor this side will be if Darren Bent leaves in January.

0-2

Arsenal vs. Portsmouth

‘Arry ain’t got no strikers and that spells trouble for Pompey.The Gunners have yet to lose at the Emirates and I can’t see that changing come Saturday.It’s a shame that Kanu can’t face his old mates, especially since he’s on song at the moment.Mendes will return for Portsmouth but Arsenal will do the business.

3-1

Newcastle vs. Watford

Suddenly Gaffer Roeder has the Geordie’s on the move.Former Inter man Obefemi Martins looked the real deal last weekend and if he continues to score frowns could turn upside down in the northeast.You’ve got to feel for Watford, though.They’re giving all they’ve got but it’s obviously not enough.Without goals, they’ll go down.

3-0

Reading vs. Blackburn

I can’t tell what’s going on with Blackburn – they’re all over the map.I do like Reading’s consistency and with Blackburn in action this week, look for Reading to ease to a home win.They’ve practically done enough to stay up, but as they should, they maintain a hunger that should see them finish comfortably mid-table.Blackburn have some classy lads but I fear their European campaign could land them in the bottom five come May.

3-1

Wigan vs. Sheffield United

Wigan were a bit unlucky not to take a point off The Arsenal at midweek and I see them winning handily here.United have had a nice run but Wigan are too tough for them, especially at the JJB.

2-1

Aston Villa vs. Bolton

What?A draw say you?I’d have to agree.Bolton have been playing their best football in years and Big Sam has his men playing well beyond their hoof it and run reputation.With Diouf in the mood and Kevin Davies poaching with aplomb, Bolton look destined for a European spot.But O’Neill won’t let it be easy and the Villains have perfected the art of The Point.

1-1

Everton vs. Chelsea

Normally this fixture would give those chasing the top two reason to hope, but with Everton’s injury list I can’t see them giving the Champions any problems.

0-2

ManchesterCity vs. Tottenham

It’s a classic case of home stronghold versus away woes.Citeh continue to do the business in their park while Spurs pull the Jekyll and Hyde and are very Hyde away from White Hart Lane.Mind you, Spurs have been on it a bit of late but they’ve done this sort of thing before…get on a roll and then revert to some astonishingly poor form.I see a draw.

2-2

West Ham vs. Manchester United

One of the surprises of the season for me is how consistent ManU have been so far.They’ve been extremely balanced and have dealt with some injuries quite well.West Ham will be boosted by Curbishly’s arrival, but even though this contest kicks off at Upton Park, I can’t see the Hammers getting a result.

0-1

Fulham vs. Middlesbrough

You’ve got to fancy Fulham at home here.They’ve been flying at the Cottage and Boro don’t exactly inspire fear on their travels.I worry for Boro and could see them fighting relegation come April.

No field, no money, no wins -- it's been tough going for the fledgling Palestinian women's national soccer team.

Yet the players, some competing in headscarves and extra long shorts for modesty, shrug off their setbacks. They say they love the sense of strength and confidence they get from the game, as well as the rush of claiming a once forbidden place in a society largely run by men.

Due to the increasing amount of spam in the comments sections, I've been forced to change our settings. It is now necessary to sign in before making a comment. This is easy and will just take a second.

All four English clubs - the maximum quota allowed under UEFA rules - didn't just qualify for the knockout phase of Europe's elite competition, but secured their passage as group winners. A feat neither Italy, Spain nor Germany could match.

When Lamar Hunt was courting his wife, Norma, they stood on the terraces for a Shamrock Rovers match in Dublin. That trip to Ireland in 1962 also kicked off Hunt's interest in soccer and started him on a path toward becoming the game's most persistent financial backer in the U.S.http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=394199&root=us&cc=5901

A dramatic late Lucas Neill winner gave Blackburn a last-gasp victory over Nancy on Wednesday as doubles each from Pauleta and Bonaventure Kalou saw Paris St Germain safely into the UEFA Cup knock-out stages.

Like an annual visit from a tiresome aunt the tedium that is Sports Personality of the Year is finally behind us and we can move on to the business end of the awards season, namely Sports Personality Disorder of the Year. To plot yourself on the great matrix of sporting insanity, do take the test below, which has been compiled along the lines of those women's magazine staples that attempt to establish the degree to which any given respondent is an alpha female/high-functioning alcoholic/drain on their friends and society.

Alan Curbishley is considered one of the best home-grown managers around, which is odd considering he's not even the best home-grown manager in his own family. In over 30 years managing The Who, his big brother Bill has only lost Keith Moon and John Entwistle, a statistic that palls into insignificance compared to the £4.45m his sibling lost on Jason Euell. It's also worth noting that Bill wedged a bigger crowd into The Valley than Alan managed in 15 years, with Roger Daltry and chums attracting over 60,000 for a gig back in the days when The Fiver was riding around on a moped sporting a slim-cut Italian suit and a McClaren-esque quiff.

What an edifying spat this is. Instead of keeping a low profile after embarrassingly falling to the ground as if taken out by a sniper during the Chelsea game, Jens decided to attack every English housewife's favourite, Frankie Lampard. For calling him names. Now Lamps fights back by telling us how crap it is when players "start talking about things in the media"... in his exculsive interview for the Sun newspaper. -TSB

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

I suppose it's in the nature of things these days to have two-horse races. There's plenty of money swishing around Europe's various football leagues, but only the privileged few can count on the megabucks that separate the thoroughbreds from the also-rans.

DenisDoyle/GettyImages

FC Sevilla celebrate after the final whistle at the weekend after securing victory over Real

It's a paradigm that people accept, and in a perverse sense the only thing that retains our interest, as neutrals, is the possibility that in some way, somehow, the duopolies of the European leagues (or occasional triopolies - now there's a word) can be broken. Hence the fuss when Napoli did it in Italy, Deportivo in Spain etc. There are other examples, but you're here to read about Spain.

From thoughts of the Champions League to the harsher reality of the Championship in a flash: that is the worst-case scenario for Eggert Magnusson. His £85million takeover of West Ham prompted, for the second time this season, suggestions that the Hammers could gatecrash the private party of the European elite.

The youngest player ever to sign with a professional sports franchise in the United States has left the team he started with. Major League Soccer player Freddy Adu was traded from D.C. United, his hometown club, and reunited with his former U-17 national youth team coach, John Ellinger, at Real Salt Lake.

Though D.C. won an MLS championship (2004), a Supporter's Shield regular season title (2006), and made the playoffs in every season since Adu first signed three years ago, it hasn't always been smooth sailing for him at United.

When West Ham sack a manager, it usually carries similar shock value to news that the Queen's whipped up her skirt and thrusted violently to the tune of LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out. It just doesn't happen. After all, the Hammers have only had 10 managers in their history - fewer than any other English club.http://football.guardian.co.uk/fiver/0,,415657,00.html

Oh, The Special One is such an ass. Unless I watched a different match, it sure as hell looked like Arsenal were trying to win the damn thing. I also neither saw nor heard anything to indicate that the Gunners are pleased with a draw. Playing a 4-5-1 at Stamford Bridge when you've got a depleted defensive unit doesn't mean you don't want to win. Arsenal controlled the midfield and went forward at every opportunity. We all know what it looks like when they want a draw -- the Hamburg match last week was a prime example. This match was the total opposite of that drab draw. Jose is just angry because he knows Chelsea won't catch ManU. And because they needed a dream strike to claim a draw. -Sanford